Fowl wind blows into city

Chickens may eventually come home to roost in Electric City.

Council members Oct. 23 unanimously agreed, it’s time for chickens to take their rightful place in the city.

New Councilmember Brad Parrish made the motion, referring to an “urban chicken movement.”

Mayor Jerry Sands said the city would develop a plan of how to move forward on the chicken issue.

Former council member Troy Ritter brought in a copy of Grand Coulee’s ordinance that allows chickens — six hens it says, but no roosters. It stipulates that the area where chickens must be kept clean and free from offensive odors.

Ritter’s neighbor, Jeremy Miller, who lives at 56 Sunset Drive, had chickens until just recently. He had appeared at an earlier council meeting to admit to having chickens for several months. He was at the meeting last Tuesday night and said his chickens have been “resettled elsewhere.”

Mayor Sands said maybe chickens could be licensed or allotted as to lot size.

Council members were surprised to learn that Seattle allows up to eight chickens, and, in addition, four bee hives.

Councilmember Bob Rupe stated that covenants on the heights, where he lives, do not allow livestock or fowl. It was pointed out to him by Parrish that the covenants in the area have been violated so often that they don’t matter anymore.

Mayor Sands tried to diminish the issue when he proclaimed that there probably would not be very many people who wanted chickens anyway.

It was pointed out, however, that kids and families can learn a lot by taking care of animals and, in this case, fowl.

And the eggs aren’t too bad either.